The Vital Role of the Preservation Fund in NFLT’s Mission of Conservation |
This week for our 25 Weeks of Memories for 25 Years of Conservation series we want to highlight an important opportunity for support, one that has been a key factor in our ability to achieve our mission for almost six years–and counting.
At the heart of the North Florida Land Trust’s (NFLT) mission lies the Preservation Fund, a vital resource that empowers the organization to seize conservation opportunities with urgency and effectiveness. This fund plays a crucial role in the acquisition and protection of essential conservation lands within the counties we serve as well as the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor (O2O) and the Corridor to Coast (C2C) extension.
The Preservation Fund was created in 2018 and designed as a rapid response mechanism, enabling NFLT to act quickly to protect the most ecologically significant and threatened lands in North Florida. With projections indicating that Florida could lose more than two million acres of natural and agricultural lands to urban development within the coming decades, the urgency of our mission has never been clearer. Of this projected loss, the bulk of that land is within one mile of existing conservation areas, putting wildlife and ecosystems at risk of isolation.
Through the Preservation Fund, NFLT can respond to these challenges with agility and focus. When needed, the fund also allows us to take immediate action to keep a transaction alive. The fund supports critical projects, such as our saltwater marsh initiative, the O2O Wildlife Corridor efforts, and the protection of Florida’s vital springs and aquifers. It also enables NFLT to underwrite programs and provide assistance to North Florida’s farmers. This flexibility allows us to prioritize the conservation projects that matter most to our region’s ecological and agricultural health.
Donations to the Preservation Fund go directly toward the costs associated with land acquisition, stewardship, management, and restoration of properties that hold significant ecological and agricultural value. This ensures that every dollar contributed has a meaningful impact on our conservation efforts. The fund does not cover general operating expenses, it is solely designed to provide the necessary resources for executing our mission effectively.
Thanks to the generous support of our donors, the Preservation Fund has achieved remarkable milestones:
The responsibility of conservation does not end with land acquisition. NFLT is committed to the ongoing care and management of the lands it protects. The Preservation Fund ensures that we have the necessary resources to uphold this commitment, allowing us to preserve North Florida’s natural spaces and working lands for generations to come.
As we continue to confront the pressing threats of urbanization and development, along with loss of wildlife habitat and climate resiliency, the Preservation Fund remains a cornerstone of our strategy to safeguard vital landscapes. We invite you to join us in this important work—your support directly contributes to the protection of North Florida’s irreplaceable natural treasures. Together, we can make a lasting difference in conserving our environment and sustaining the wildlife that depend on these ecosystems.
Want to learn more? Visit the Preservation Fund page on our website. Interested in supporting the Preservation Fund? You can make a donation here or contact the Development team at Development@nflt.org. |